Brew Coffee Bean opens in former Starbucks in Marlborough

METRO WEST DAILY NEWS – Before they even opened their new craft coffee shop on Rte. 20 across from the Apex Center, Frank and Linda Peace knew the place would quickly become a popular gathering spot in the city.

After all, they know many of their customers from living in the city for nearly 25 years. The couple jumped at the opportunity to open Brew Coffee Bean inside a former Starbucks. That store moved to the Apex Center and added a drive-thru.

“I thought it was a good opportunity to bring something new,” Frank Peace said. The coffee shop opened at 187 Boston Post Road West in September.

“All of our pastries, sandwiches and everything is baked fresh on premise throughout the day,” Frank Peace said. “A lot of places say they do it daily, we do it throughout the day. If we run out of cookies; we bake more.”

The couple designed the space to have a contemporary, warm feel.

“We are definitely getting a lot of regulars,” Frank Peace said.

He previously worked for Starbucks for about eight years as a director of operations for more than 100 stores. He developed Brew on the Grid and Stix Noodle Bar in Worcester through a partnership with Grid Hospitality Group before launching his own coffee brand in Marlborough.

He grew up in Newton and Linda grew up in East Boston.

“When I moved to Marlborough, this is the first place that I grabbed a cup of coffee,” he said of the space he now calls home.

Frank Peace knew he’d open another coffee place after leaving the Worcester partnership.

“One of the core tenets of this brand is we brew in various ways. We do pour-overs, occasionally I’ll bring in a siphon coffee,” he said. “I make the cold brew fresh on the premises.”

The shop roasts its own beans, including flavored coffees.

“During the roasting process, the flavor is injected into the coffee,” Frank Peace said. “So it is more authentic.”

Along with coffee and tea, the shop offers blended beverages and fresh-pressed juices ($6.95), including the “Orange Boostah,” made with carrots, oranges and ginger. Some favorites include nitrogen-infused cold brew coffee and teas.

“We’ll change are menu on a quarterly basis for the food,” Frank Peace said. “We’ll add new drinks monthly or seasonally.”

Several employees are customers who applied for jobs. The shop also features catering for up to 500 people and takes part in local events, such as the Northborough Farmers Market.

The couple are excited about the growth in Marlborough, including improvements to downtown Marlborough.

“I feel like Marlborough is going through what I’d call a renaissance at this point. It is really cool to be a part of a community that is just exploding,” Frank Peace said. “There is lots more to come in Marlborough.”

Next year, the Peaces will apply for a all-alcohol license to sell craft beers and liquors. The shop hosts community events for children and fundraisers for local organizations.

Linda Peace works as the manager after many years as a stay-at-home mother. The space is quickly becoming a go-to gathering place in the city.